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Metal theft declining, says National Crime Agency

Commenting in its National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2017, published last week, the Agency said: “Available data indicates that metal theft continues to decline. However increases in lead prices and potential increases in copper may impact on theft levels.”

But, the Agency said it was aware that church roofs remained a target. It reported: “In 2016 particular vulnerabilities were noted in relation to ecclesiastical premises, including lead frequently stripped from church roofs.”

However, today (4 July) the British Metals Recycling Association, which represents the scrap metal sector, said that it had heard ‘anecdotally’ that metal theft was rising.